NEW YORK — The hard-hitting safety who brought thunder to the Rockies will continue to wait to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

John Lynch, a former Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers star, wasn't among the seven chosen by voters Saturday for Hall of Fame induction this summer in Canton, Ohio. Lynch, one of 15 finalists, didn't make the cut to the round of 10 players.

Hall of Famers in the Class of 2014 include Seahawks offensive tackle Walter Jones, Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks, Bills wide receiver Andre Reed, Rams and Cardinals defensive back Aeneas Williams and Giants defensive end Michael Strahan. Also making it as "senior candidates" were Raiders punter Ray Guy and Claude Humphrey, a defensive end with the Falcons and Eagles.

The group was announced during the NFL Honors show at Radio City Music Hall.

Lynch was a longshot to be inducted this year. But it's a positive sign that he was a finalist in just his second year of eligibility.

"I'm trying not to have a whole lot of expectations," Lynch told The Denver Post on Friday. "I'm trying to find some way to enjoy the process. How you do that is appreciate that people think highly enough of you to be in this conversation."

Bolstering Lynch's future candidacy is his nine Pro Bowl selections. Only Hall of Famer Ken Houston, with 10, has more among safeties. Also, Lynch helped anchor the famed Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay defense of 2002, along with Hall of Fame tackle Warren Sapp and Brooks, who became a Hall of Famer in his first year of eligibility.

Brooks was chosen for 11 Pro Bowls in 14 seasons with the Buccaneers, was a five-time first-team all-pro and the NFL's defensive player of the year in 2002, when he returned three interceptions for touchdowns. Brooks also returned an interception for a touchdown in the Buccaneers' victory over the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.

He also was a giant off the field, winning the league's Walter Payton man of the year award in 2000.

Though the selection of Brooks as a first-year inductee was a no-doubter, he clearly was moved by the news. He tweeted: "Thought of tonight is JOY, HUMILITY and gratefulness, I'm in the Hall of Fame Now."

Reed, who helped Buffalo advance to four Super Bowls but never got a championship ring, had to wait a long time to be a Hall of Famer. He had been an eight-time finalist. He ranks fifth in NFL history with 85 postseason receptions — a remarkable statistic considering that the Bills' offense ran the ball 51 percent of the time during his career.

Strahan's selection also was expected — even though Sapp, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last summer, took a very public shot at Strahan last week by saying that he didn't think Strahan deserved to be in the Hall of Fame.

Guy, whose booming punts made him a terrific weapon for the Raiders, made history Saturday with his selection. Drafted by the Raiders in the first round in 1973, Guy became the first punter to be selected for Hall of Fame induction. His eligibility as a modern-era candidate had expired. Now he joins Jan Stenerud as the only Hall of Fame kickers in NFL history.

One of the most impactful linebackers in NFL history, Brooks never missed a game in his 14-seasons with the Buccaneers. A 2000s all-decade selection, the six-time All-Pro intercepted 25 passes, returned six for touchdowns, forced 24 fumbles and had 13 ½ sacks. Along with teammate and fellow 2014 nominee John Lynch, Brooks helped bring a championship to Tampa Bay in the 2002 season.

* Ray Guy, punter, Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

He became the first punter elected to the Hall of Fame, but he waited 22 years for the honor after being a finalist for the first time in 1992. He was selected by the Raiders in the first round of the 1973 draft. Since 2000, the Ray Guy Award has been awarded to the nation's top collegiate punter.

Had 122 career sacks in 171 games and helped lead the Eagles to Super Bowl XV with a team-high 14 ½ sacks. It should be noted that sacks were not an official statistic during his career.

* Walter Jones, tackle, Seattle Seahawks

The athletic, 6-foot-5, 300-pounder protected the blind sides of nine different Seahawks quarterbacks, including Pro Bowlers Warren Moon and Matt Hasselbeck. Jones allowed just 23 sacks and was whistled for a mere nine holding penalties in 180 career games. He was a member of the NFL's 2000s all-decade team.

* Andre Reed, receiver, Buffalo Bills

Reed was the go-to slot receiver for Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and helped the Bills go to four Super Bowls. Reed and Kelly hooked up 663 times, the most by a quarterback-receiver tandem until 2004 when the Colts' Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison broke their record.

* Michael Strahan, defensive end, New York Giants

Strahan was an unstoppable force on the defensive line, setting the single-season record with 22 ½ sacks in 2001. Strahan retired after leading the Giants to 17-14 upset of the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Strahan was a complete player, stuffing running backs while notching 141 ½ career sacks.

* Aeneas Williams, defensive back, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams.

Williams had an incredible knack for scoring defensive touchdowns. He returned nine interceptions for touchdowns (fourth all-time) and three fumbles. By the end of his career, Williams racked up 55 interceptions.

* Elected as a senior candidate.

Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees

LB DERRICK BROOKS

1995-2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers ... 14 seasons, 224 games.

First year eligible. ... Selected by Buccaneers in first round (28th player overall). ... Never missed game in career. ... In 1997, led Bucs to first postseason appearance since 1981. ... NFL's defensive player of the year in 2002. ... Helped Tampa Bay post best total defense numbers in NFL twice (2002 and 2005) and in NFC five times (1998, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2007).

P RAY GUY

1973-86 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ... 14 seasons, 207 games.

Senior nominee. ... First punter ever drafted in first round, Raiders 1973 (23rd player overall). ... Had best average (45.3 yards) as rookie. ... Career average was 42.4 yards. ... Averaged less than 40 yards only one season in NFL career. ... Led NFL in punting in 1974, 1975, 1977. ... Had only three of 1,049 punts blocked. ... Had 619 straight punts without a block, 1979-86.

Senior nominee. ... Falcons' first-round pick (third player overall) in 1968 draft. ... Recorded 11½ sacks his first year and was NFL's defensive rookie of the year. ... Credited with 122 career sacks. Led team in sacks nine of 13 seasons. ... Missed just two games before season-ending knee injury in 1975. Rebounded with career-best 15 sacks in 1976 and was chosen team MVP. ... Traded to Eagles in 1979 for two fourth-round picks after a brief retirement. ... In 1980, his team-high 14½ sacks helped Eagles advance to 1981 Super Bowl.

OT WALTER JONES

1997-2008 Seattle Seahawks. ... 12 seasons, 190 games.

First year eligible. ... Selected in first round (sixth player overall) by Seahawks in 1997. ... Earned starting left offensive tackle spot in rookie training camp. ... Consensus pick for multiple all-rookie teams ... After the 1999 season, Jones became the first offensive lineman in Seahawks history to be elected to the Pro Bowl, the first of nine all-star appearances. ... Team leader and integral part of Shaun Alexander's MVP season in 2005 when the tailback ran for franchise-record and league-high 1,880 yards and set NFL mark for rushing TDs (27) in a season. ... All-pro six times (2001-02, 2004-07).

Selected by Buffalo in fourth round (86th overall) of 1985 draft. ... Most prolific receiver in Buffalo Bills history. ... His 951 career receptions were third in NFL history at time of his retirement. ... His 941 career receptions still are a Bills record and 266 more than No. 2 on that list. ... His 13,095 yards receiving and 36 games with 100-plus yards are current team records. ... His 13 seasons, including nine consecutive, with 50-plus receptions are exceeded only by Jerry Rice.

DE MICHAEL STRAHAN

1993-2007 New York Giants ... 15 seasons, 216 games.

First year eligible. ... Selected in second round (40th player overall) in 1993 draft. ...Recorded 141½ career sacks. ... Had 38 multisack games during career. ... Registered double-digit sack totals six times during nine-season span, 1997-2005. ... Suffered torn pectoral muscle in 2004 but rebounded after that season by starting all 16 games and amassing 11½ sacks. ... Set NFL single-season sack record with 22½ in 2001. ... Also won NFL sack title in 2003 with 18½. ... Named unanimous NFL defensive player of the year in 2001.

Selected by the Cardinals in third round (59th overall) of 1991 draft. ... Starred at cornerback for 12 seasons before switching to safety. ... Compiled five or more interceptions in a season six times. ... Recorded 55 interceptions for 807 yards and nine touchdowns. ... Had a then-record 104-yard fumble return against the Redskins in 2000.

Not all kids who play baseball are uniformed with fancy script across their chests, traveling to $1,000 instructional camps and drilled how to properly hit the cut-off man. Some kids just play to play.